Editing Vangelis (section)

==Early life==
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou was born on 29 March 1943 in [[Agria]], a coastal town in [[Magnesia (regional unit)|Magnesia]], [[Thessaly]], [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]], and raised in [[Athens]].<ref name=KB82>{{cite web|url=http://www.nemostudios.co.uk/vangelis/interviews/keyboard/keyboard.htm|access-date=25 December 2017|title=Oscar-winning Synthesist|last=Doerschuk|first=Bob|date=August 1982|magazine=Keyboard Magazine|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053308/http://www.nemostudios.co.uk/vangelis/interviews/keyboard/keyboard.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> His father Odysseus worked in property and was an amateur sprinter; Vangelis described him as "a great lover of music".<ref name=PROV81>{{cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/image/500897492/|title=Vangelis, speaking from his laboratory|first=Tom|last=Harrison|newspaper=The Province|date=22 November 1981|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=27 January 2019|archive-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421140055/https://newspapers.com/image/500897492/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LAT86/> His mother Foteini Kyriakopoulou was trained as a soprano.<ref name="ObitTG2022">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/20/vangelis-obituary|title=Vangelis obituary|first=Adam|last=Sweeting|author-link=Adam Sweeting|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=20 May 2022|access-date=27 May 2022|archive-date=30 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530195758/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/20/vangelis-obituary|url-status=live}}</ref> Vangelis had one brother, Nikos. Vangelis recalled a peaceful and happy childhood without interference from his parents, who let him be involved in his activities, mainly consisting of playing the piano, painting, and constructing things with his hands.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GsGoM7a8Ww&t=11830s | title=Vangelis - Interviews (2008) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=3 September 2017 | access-date=25 May 2022 | archive-date=25 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525090603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GsGoM7a8Ww&t=11830s | url-status=live }}</ref> 

Vangelis developed an interest in music at age four, composing on the family piano and experimenting with sounds by placing nails and kitchen pans inside it and with radio interference.<ref name=KB82/><ref name="Hischak" /><ref name="Goldstein">{{citation |url=http://www.nemostudios.co.uk/vangelis/interviews/emm/emm.htm |title=Soil Festivities Vangelis Speaks |author=Dan Goldstein |date=November 1984 |magazine=Electronics & Music Maker |access-date=22 August 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053744/http://www.nemostudios.co.uk/vangelis/interviews/emm/emm.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> When he was six his parents enrolled him for music lessons, but was unable to take to formal tuition as he preferred to develop technique on his own.<ref name=KB82/> In later life he considered himself fortunate to have not attended music school, thinking it would have impeded his creativity.<ref name="Hischak" /><ref name="Telegraph UK"/> He never learned to read or write music, instead playing from memory: "When the teachers asked me to play something, I would pretend that I was reading it and play from memory. I didn't fool them, but I didn't care."<ref name="ObitTG2022"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Vangelis – The Composer Who Set Chariots Afire|magazine=Life|date=July 1982|volume=5|issue=7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kOQxAQAAIAAJ|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=10 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210110023/https://books.google.com/books?id=kOQxAQAAIAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> One of his piano teachers was Greek composer [[Aristotelis Koundouroff]].<ref name="ObitTG2022"/>

Vangelis found [[Greek traditional music|traditional Greek music]] an important influence in his childhood. At 12, he developed an interest in jazz and rock music.<ref name=KB82/><ref name="Bigot1984">{{cite web |url=http://www.elsew.com/data/gec84.htm |title=Vangelis analyses his syntheses |author=Yves Bigot |date=January 1984 |magazine=Guitare & Claviers |issue=37 |access-date=22 August 2016 |archive-date=30 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430114734/http://elsew.com/data/gec84.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> At fifteen he formed a band with school friends who had similar musical interests. Three years later, he acquired a [[Hammond organ]].<ref name=KB82/> In 1963, following brief stints in art college and an apprenticeship in filmmaking, Vangelis and three school friends started a five-piece rock band, The Forminx (or The Formynx), named after the [[Phorminx|Ancient Greek string instrument]].<ref name=EOTWLN>{{cite AV media notes|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2857825-Aphrodites-Child-End-Of-The-World|title=End of the World [2010 Reissue]|others=Aphrodite's Child|year=1968|first=Mark|last=Powell|id=ECLEC 2205|publisher=Esoteric Recordings|access-date=10 September 2023|archive-date=22 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022223525/https://www.discogs.com/release/2857825-Aphrodites-Child-End-Of-The-World|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lake1974">{{cite web|url=http://www.elsew.com/data/mema74.htm|title=Greek Group|first=Steve|last=Lake|date=10 August 1974|magazine=Melody Maker|access-date=22 August 2016|archive-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105054529/http://elsew.com/data/mema74.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The group played covers and original material largely written by Vangelis, whose stage name at this time was Vagos, with English lyrics by radio DJ and record producer [[Nico Mastorakis]]. After nine singles and one Christmas EP, which found success across Europe, the group disbanded in 1966.<ref name="ObitTG2022"/><ref name="theforminx">{{cite web |url=http://www.vangelismovements.com/theforminx.htm |title=The Forminx |publisher=Vangelis Movements |access-date=12 November 2008 |archive-date=19 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419075515/http://vangelismovements.com/theforminx.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>